SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492016-12-09T20:07:17-07:00SparkFun ElectronicsRobertC. on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedRobertC.urn:uuid:5a0ff9c2-5d57-6ec0-b3cb-fae6d845d76f2014-05-12T11:40:44-06:00<p>yes, you could use it for that.</p>Customer #553624 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #553624urn:uuid:95037a79-bf51-e936-0079-92c0947d751f2014-05-12T08:12:31-06:00<p>Is this appropriate to use with a photo cell/LDR to make a tripwire?</p>joshsh on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redjoshshurn:uuid:3dd6a00a-7491-48c9-02a5-acc0f6929a6f2014-01-01T11:23:42-07:00<p>This is a great little laser. Any chance of adding it to the <a href="https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun-Eagle-Libraries" rel="nofollow" >SparkFun Eagle Libraries</a>?</p>mrwillcreates on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redmrwillcreatesurn:uuid:2fb95bf1-8593-bcea-d8fb-96cb26a984522013-11-04T08:27:13-07:00<p>I think it is a class 2 laser.</p>Toni_K on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedToni_Kurn:uuid:676607f9-a92e-e50c-0127-b6279c9922ec2013-10-21T13:32:27-06:00<p>Awesome! Thanks for sharing!</p>Mark Fickett on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedMark Ficketturn:uuid:8df8e7f3-9f0d-e817-e33b-a3cc2ad12ebc2013-10-20T15:12:17-06:00<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markfickett/10389533644/" rel="nofollow" >Photos of output from this and the green laser module</a>. I connected it to 2x NiMH AAs (red to +, white to ground) and got a normal laser-pointer brightness; I measured 3.2v and 16.5mA.</p>Purple People Eater on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedPurple People Eaterurn:uuid:903a4c32-4833-7eed-b493-21cf25e21f872013-09-14T06:11:58-06:00<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKRPfa66_po</p>Customer #119207 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #119207urn:uuid:02b10507-d76c-acc9-aade-0f5e0602ee9e2013-07-10T12:48:50-06:00<p>I bought a few of these recently, they arrived with 4 wires. FYI: You must bridge white and green in order to turn the Laser On.</p>Toni_K on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedToni_Kurn:uuid:3a92c0fb-4842-8c17-7905-b0f29d45c9c82013-06-06T08:20:18-06:00<p>Approximately 0.05 ounces.</p>Customer #444179 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #444179urn:uuid:aaaa02cb-5f9b-7eb6-7a51-d1f855053a4f2013-06-05T22:49:14-06:00<p>how much does it weigh?</p>claridion on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redclaridionurn:uuid:271d1014-b5b1-5013-3a2e-dfb6132993c82013-05-07T11:40:16-06:00<p>Hi,.. I just tested this little Laser and it works great at 2.5V @ 15mA.
Can I keep it powered ON for a long period of time (like 10 hours) without affecting performances ?
Could that affect the 3000 hours duration indicated in the specs ?
I want to setup a cheap and focused portable TripWire system with a phototransistor facing the laser. It works as expected for the moment. I&rsquo;m just anxious about long term operation and I don&rsquo;t have time to test it for so long before looking for a more robust laser.
Thx for any comment that could help me take the best decision.</p>mai109 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redmai109urn:uuid:252e1ff2-1823-83c8-55e2-2ea2e5f86bbf2013-04-10T08:42:13-06:00<p>I&rsquo;m wanting to know the same thing. The documentation doesn&rsquo;t say.</p>MoriFi on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedMoriFiurn:uuid:e7c6c1fd-2bf5-5d64-0f96-d1317c272a882013-03-26T00:34:34-06:00<p>Also the Arduino pins can only sink 20mA. So use a MOSFET or something.</p>MoriFi on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedMoriFiurn:uuid:bb1c3fe1-564b-e773-9c85-fbdd9e4852dd2013-03-26T00:29:43-06:00<p>I would not use a resistor to do that job, especially not at 9v. I would use a voltage regulator <a href="https://www.sparkfun.com/products/526" rel="nofollow" >like this one.</a></p>taco on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redtacourn:uuid:7d1c1813-7269-f3ea-2b44-d4ffb1d37f982013-03-25T15:42:20-06:00<p>What ohm resistor would I need to step down 9v to 3v? Or do I need some sort of current limiter to prevent spikes - I&rsquo;m new to arduino and this is for a project.</p>Customer #405842 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #405842urn:uuid:501a2e1d-2cda-27a2-1545-da56e283d06a2013-02-05T08:20:04-07:00<p>I Have a question. If i placed an order of this item, how much is the shipping fee? same question for the Pan Tilt Bracket. I&rsquo;m from the Philippines. Thank you</p>JohanP on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedJohanPurn:uuid:d0233d69-de2f-547e-195c-2e28cd1ee2c22012-12-11T22:44:18-07:00<p>Is this a class 1 laser?</p>Jamo on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedJamourn:uuid:b6d09b68-a161-2676-3c14-f9d1631e6f292012-05-26T23:24:35-06:00<p>The divergence will be linear, so if it is 10-15cm at 10m then it will be 30-45 at 30m. However, I would test your laser, the datasheet doesn&rsquo;t seem very accurate on the other values.</p>tedspark on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redtedsparkurn:uuid:f245415f-e042-a6a5-6bdd-a269828cc15d2011-12-04T11:30:09-07:00<p>It rated for 3V not 3.3V, they should make that a bit more prominent I think. Easy mistake to make.</p>baum on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redbaumurn:uuid:2df7695d-5647-de71-55fb-d68a7bb360592011-11-11T12:51:43-07:00<p>Photocell.</p>rbturnerwy on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redrbturnerwyurn:uuid:a157b6f4-a416-8b10-7545-ec38deb5acf82011-10-14T05:51:08-06:00<p>Just got this little guy, hooked it up to the 3.3v on the arduino (black to ground) and nothing is happening. What am I doing wrong?</p>EliTheIceMan on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedEliTheIceManurn:uuid:c61b66d0-f72c-7c78-ca37-48dd337edd742011-09-28T17:51:44-06:00<p>I want to suggest a product of carrying a low power IR laser module. Then it could be pointed at a IR receiver to send data without interference from general light. I want to build laser tag!</p>dannil10 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Reddannil10urn:uuid:9551f06c-915f-324e-3d39-592f276ad0f62011-07-15T13:33:21-06:00<p>Can this be modulated by switching the supply voltage, or otherwise? At what rate?</p>MoriFi on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedMoriFiurn:uuid:9ee4ef24-d90a-2443-6646-858afb0ba3672011-05-16T16:20:40-06:00<p>like the arduinos 3.3v pin</p>MattQ on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedMattQurn:uuid:0fef4ccc-ee64-f8a4-6af4-790709c337942011-04-19T14:42:48-06:00<p>Maybe I&rsquo;m wrong, and someone can correct me, but this does not have an infrared filter on it, correct? Unless the &ldquo;plastic lens&rdquo; is a filter? Anyone with a spectrometer just laying around care to confirm? :) For all the people burning these out, connecting to a current regulator (or current limiter) will prevent it from burning out, regardless of input (assuming you don&rsquo;t burn out the regulator, that is), if you plan on hooking this up to a noisy voltage source.</p>BenHami on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedBenHamiurn:uuid:ab5e96cb-db9e-d537-ce6d-f0128419c3f92011-03-21T13:43:06-06:00<p>What is your input voltage? Did you get this resolved?</p>Customer #186925 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #186925urn:uuid:fdff3d7c-46ab-94b5-2a40-a4b10917c4e62011-01-20T22:26:07-07:00<p>I just received this part and noticed that it produced a nice bright &ldquo;spot&rdquo; at only 15 mA. Much less than the data sheet&rsquo;s nominal current of 35 mA. I made some measurements of the V-I curve that other&rsquo;s might find helpful. The measurements can be found at &ldquo;http://www.nbnis.net/info/wentaiLaserCardVIchart.pdf&rdquo;.<br/>
Based on these measurements it appears that the laser should be operated around 15mA to 20mA, not 35mA. Because the laser has a built in resistance this corresponds to 3-7 Volts applied to the laser. This means the laser can be connected directly to a LiPo battery with out any other components. I&rsquo;ve tested this and it works as expected. The only issue that still needs addressed is how to keep the laser from discharging the LiPo battery to less than 2.75V. Putting a silicon diode (forward biased) in series with the laser should prevent the battery from discharging below 2.9V (2.3V laser diode + .6V silicon diode). This makes for a very simple circuit (laser+diode+battery) that will reliably operate the laser from battery power. BTW.. the red lead is the positive lead. (Not shown on the part&rsquo;s drawing.)<br/>
If anyone sees a flaw in this approach please point it out.</p>Customer #171310 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #171310urn:uuid:25d7e697-c9bc-e499-130d-4029b7615f6f2011-01-14T02:52:24-07:00<p>Mine died after a few seconds of use. :(</p>Rodrigo Dias on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedRodrigo Diasurn:uuid:e556955b-0ca1-7ee7-ed21-d4c4bc36d9c92011-01-05T06:54:00-07:00<p>Does anyone knows what can I use as a receiver for this laser? I want to detect when the laser is On/Off. What things can I use for that? Thanks!</p>Ravenkallen on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedRavenkallenurn:uuid:66f3afd2-2686-e9b4-cc04-68ea903460ec2010-12-12T11:02:54-07:00<p>Oh, cool. .. I am working on a low power laser tag system. This module looks especially appealing because it is low power and still puts out a nice bright dot&hellip; I am guessing that this laser would be qualified as a class 1 or 1M? Any safety concerns?<br/>
OOPS, didn&rsquo;t mean to reply to your post</p>baum on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redbaumurn:uuid:259b2a05-03a7-4af3-364b-7bb9099efff22010-12-12T09:52:22-07:00<p>Yes, I expected it to be slightly larger. But it outputs a nice, bright, and clear beam @ 3V. The leads, though, are the worst ever. Mine just fell off after about 10 minutes off use, so I&rsquo;ll have to re solder them on. I would definitely recommend this laser, though I would also recommend tearing off the leads when it arrives and solder on your own. &lt;br /><br/>
Great Otherwise.</p>Ravenkallen on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedRavenkallenurn:uuid:ff2ce9d5-600e-40c4-1abb-44bf0d5006c42010-12-08T14:47:50-07:00<p>About how far does the beam go before it gets to weak? It said in the data sheet that the beam divergence was 10- 15 millimeters for a distance of 10 meters. Would it be much worse than that at distances of 30-40 meters?</p>I2C Master on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedI2C Masterurn:uuid:6c2a606d-7f99-512d-3cc0-116a8d0420652010-08-17T07:56:51-06:00<p>So a constant current source would be great for this and all you need for constent current source is 2 pnp transitors. Hook up one pnp&rsquo;s base to its colector and to the other pnp&rsquo;s base. Hook up both emiters to a voltage supply. The colector which has the base connected to controls the current and the other colector is were the constent current comes out!</p>GGam on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedGGamurn:uuid:d9e2e4e2-ac37-21dd-127d-50b2faf7e1be2010-04-24T16:04:10-06:00<p>Not bad, for the price. But the datasheet does'nt contain any useful information, apart from the current consumption, 35-40 mA, quite far from the 15 mA I measured at 3.1V. Also, like any LED, this device should be powered by constant current, not constant voltage, so there must be a resistor inside, but its value is unknown.</p>ThinkerT on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedThinkerTurn:uuid:460146dd-1e28-610b-0e24-fa6a0235dfa02010-02-10T13:35:04-07:00<p>Could you use this as a range finder? I know that you&rsquo;d need a receiver, but would this work as a transmitter?</p>promethean on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redprometheanurn:uuid:736f9f6b-64e9-2cc4-a515-089a5eb0e58d2010-01-12T10:54:01-07:00<p><em>Also, I think you need to resister down your voltage if you&rsquo;re coming 5 volt from an Arduino or you may shorten its life. Hopefully someone else here can give a more specific recommendation.</em><br/>
The product listing indicates the correct voltage of 3v, and the data sheet indicates a 40mA max current. So, yes, anything higher and you&rsquo;ll risk damage.</p>MaxR on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedMaxRurn:uuid:3b4e417b-53f8-2e1e-4db0-cfd4664e8a3e2010-01-11T19:40:10-07:00<p>WARNING. The wires are not robustly soldered into the interior of the case. After a couple of weeks, my white wire has already come off. I&rsquo;ll need to open it up and solder it back on. Before using I recommend you wrap a little electrical tape where the wires leave the container so the wires don&rsquo;t move. Other than that, the device gives a strong, steady beam. Also, I think you need to resister down your voltage if you&rsquo;re coming 5 volt from an Arduino or you may shorten its life. Hopefully someone else here can give a more specific recommendation.</p>I2C Master on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedI2C Masterurn:uuid:d89f0144-6a28-121f-6a9d-1e84fae8bafa2009-11-20T19:26:51-07:00<p>Iron Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>iffy on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Rediffyurn:uuid:e43d0ad6-634a-a317-a48e-b8627ebb00922009-07-14T15:32:13-06:00<p>How far does this thing shoot (how dim does it get per meter), and does a variable input voltage translate into a variable intensity beam?<br/>
I&rsquo;m interested in sending audio waves (analog voltages) via laser.</p>naneau on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Rednaneauurn:uuid:7618771b-1cbb-8b10-83f7-868d84b82e7d2009-06-12T14:53:38-06:00<p>This module is absolutely <em>tiny</em>, but it&rsquo;s great. I wasn&rsquo;t expecting much at all, but it&rsquo;ll give you a very nice, very bright red dot.<br/>
It&rsquo;s small enough that you can attach it to anything with ease. I use it to see what my robot&rsquo;s range finder is looking at. I&rsquo;ve also used it as a laser sight for an rubber band shooter.</p>adamp on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - Redadampurn:uuid:b854779f-637f-86cb-a6c7-597cec0e3b602006-09-28T23:40:43-06:00<p>Very useful laser module, good range and low beam divergence. Has built in lens so only a power supply is needed, great for op. comm. projects!</p>Customer #5747 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #5747urn:uuid:2336ea88-5887-845c-d78d-6ca2097d1c812006-08-03T18:51:55-06:00<p>Very neat little device. Simple power requirements and great performance. Thanks!</p>Customer #1646 on COM-00594 - Laser Card Module - RedCustomer #1646urn:uuid:b45e6edb-89b5-61f6-e296-d8f8f2988a2e2006-04-14T07:45:43-06:00<p>I recently bought this little thing for work on a project i was planning. To be honest, given its size and price, i was not sure what to expect. Thankfully, i can say that this little module is worth its price. It is a very bright, and fairly acurate little device, and incredibly simple- provide the power source, and you are good to go. Definatly consider this little one if you have any need for a VERY cheap laser!</p>